USA: US OFFICIALS CLAIM DESERT FOX WAS A SUCCESS

(20 Dec 1998) English/Nat

Top U-S officials are claiming success in the Desert Fox air campaign against Iraq.

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says Saddam Hussein is now in a "stronger box" and is less likely to threaten his neighbours in the region.

A day after the bombing was halted, Albright and other officials say U-S and British forces remain on alert in the Arabian Gulf, warning they'll strike again if Iraq violates any number of conditions.

Clinton administration officials were busy making the rounds of America's network chat shows defending the 70-hour long air assault on Iraq.

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright among them says that effort has had the desired effect on the regime of Saddam Hussein.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"As a result of our action and by the way what's so fantastic is that all of our military people are home and safe, is that Saddam is weaker, because he has lost these assets or many of them have been damaged, the region is safer because we have in fact again degraded his ability to attack his neighbours, and I think that he is in a stronger box because we have proven the credibility of the use of force
SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State.

Albright admits the chance that United Nations inspectors will return to Iraq is unlikely.

And now that force has been used on Iraq, she says the U-S and Britain will remain poised to strike again against any number of actions seen as threatening.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We will maintain a very tough sanctions regime and at the same time I think that Chairman Shelton and Secretary Cohen have made clear that substantial numbers of forces will remain in the Gulf and we have reserved the right to use military force again if there is any sign that he is re constituting his ability to deliver weapons of mass destruction, or if he moves north against the Kurds or if he does anything to threaten his neighbours."
SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State.

Global reaction was favourable, she said, despite strong objections from China and Russia to the operation.

SOUNDBITE: (English) "I have spoken with over thirty foreign ministers or heads of state and all of them have made very clear that they are in support of what we did in Iraq and it is very clear to me that the President has clout and credibility in the international community and that they are all amazed about what is going on here"
SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State

And the U-S Defence Secretary was also defending President Clinton's move to use force, despite criticism for the timing of such action at a time of political crisis at home.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"President Clinton made it very clear on this last occasion when the pull back at the last moment when Saddam once again promised to comply that this was the last time so President Clinton has indulged in a great deal of diplomacy, but the diplomacy had to come to an end when he refused to comply with the security council resolutions."
SUPER CAPTION: William Cohen, U.S. Defence Secretary.

With the short term goal of containing Iraq now complete, the White House says the U-S will now move toward the longer term goal of bolstering opposition to Saddam Hussein within Iraq.

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